When you are shopping for a dining room table, it’s easy to
be so enamored with a style that you momentarily forget more practical
considerations such as the space you have available and how many people you
need to seat for a meal daily as well as on big occasions such as parties and
the holidays. That’s why Jerusalem Furniture is offering you this quick guide
to make your dining room just right for you, keeping in mind the balance of
form and function that your home entertainment requires.
Intimate Tables for Two or Three: Round Tops
If you are like many households, you don’t use a formal
dining room much, accommodating family and guests alike in the dinette. If so,
a round dining room table is likely most appropriate. This design is inherently
intimate, inviting the diners into a cozy space conducive to conversation.
Midsize Tabletops
The optimum solution for many rooms is a midsize dining room table, perhaps with a square top with ample room in the center to place the
food being served. A suggestion: for a table this size, why not add a lazy Susan?
Also, if your floor space is a bit limited but you need something more
substantial than a dinette, midsize tables are easy to stow in a corner when
not in use. Dropleaf tables are also attractive and versatile, changing to suit
the occasion. For midsize tables, consider a pedestal base rather than legs, to
maximize the seating capacity.
The Grand Table: Going Rectangular
The big rectangular dining room table you might remember
from childhood holidays is a perennial favorite for good reason: so roomy and
welcoming, and practical as well to handle all the serving dishes piled onto
it! Bear in mind when selecting one that along with the increased length, there
is a corresponding widening. Get out your tape measure to make sure your dining
room has enough square footage to comfortably fit the table, pulled-out chairs,
sideboard or cabinets, and foot traffic!
Your Basic Measurements
Your dining room table must be at least a yard (36 inches
wide). Table-to-wall clearance should be about 4 feet (48 inches). If you
already have furniture lining the walls, don’t forget to measure from the table’s
edge to the furniture rather than to the wall. Imagine the number of people the
table can sit without touching elbows; that amounts to allowing about 2 feet of
eating space per diner.
For a dining room table you and your guests will love, visit
our Pennsauken, NJ showroom or any of our other locations!